Improvement in belt fastenings



S. J. SHERMAN. BELT FASTENING.

No. 60,579. Patented Dec. 18, 1866.

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To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, S. J. SHERMAN, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Belts, and the like articles of dress, intended more especially for the waists of skirts and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention allows the beltto be hooked and unhooked with very great facility, and also allows the size of the waist or belt to be adjusted-with great nicety. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. I Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing an entire belt with my improved fastening. I

Figure 2 is a face view.

Figure 3, an edge view; and

Figure 4, an end view of the fastening detached from the belt or waist-band.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the parts, as attached and in use.

Figure 6 represents the fastening iii the position for adjusting the size of the belt or waist-band. The redline indicates the outline of the waist, around which the waist-band is secured.

Figure 7 shows the point of the hook extending up through the eyelet on a greatly magnified scale.

- Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all figures.

I will proceed to describe the construction by the aid of the drawings and letters of reference marked thereon. The entire fastening may be made in one piece. I prefer to cut it from sheet brass, or other suitable material, by the aid of dies operated by suitable machinery. The hooks may afterwards be bent, either by hand or by other dies, by means well known to workers in metal. A A are the hooks, They are provided with swells, a, which make them hold more tenaciously in the eyelets or other holes, B, in which they are inserted. The plate on which the hooks, A, are formed is composed of three parallel parts, 0 D E, joined at the ends, as

indicated in fig. 2. The parts C and D are plain and smooth. The part E is provided with teeth, e, directed toward the part D, as represented. One end of the belt is provided with the eyelets B, or with other suitable provision for receiving the .hooks A. The other end of the belt or girdle, indicated by N, is thrust through the fastening, in theopositio n indicated in fig. 5, an end being thrust first through the spaces E and D, and afterwards through the space between D and C. It may be adjusted backward and forward on the belt or waist-band, N, to any extent desired with great facility. The teeth, e, assist the natural friction of the parts in insuring that the fastening will notchangeits placeon the belt in consequence of any strain to which it will be ordinarily subjected. When it is desired to diminish the size of the belt, the operation may be effected with ease by simply taking hold of the fasteninv, A C D E, with the left hand, and drawing on the free end of the belt with the right hand.

a In changing it in an opposite direction, so as to enlarge the belt, it is n'ecessaryto turn the fastening into the position indicated in fig. 6; This movement carries the teeth, e, out of contact with the belt, and allows the fastening to he slipped forward or backward with equal facility. The moment it is liberated from this position and assumes its ordinary position, as shown in fig. 5, the teeth, 2, become again affected and prevent any enlargement of the belt. Skirtsor other articles of dress provided with this fastening may be manufactured in quan tities, all of equalsize, and the wearers may adapt each article to the exact size of their waists. The position of the fastening, once adjusted on the belt, need not be changed; and the belt may be hooked and unhooked without necessarily changing the position of the fastening on the belt until the garment is worn out. There have been various fastenings devised-which possess some of the advantages of my invention, but I know of none which combine all of these like mine. The trouble of introducing the end of the belt through the spaces between the parts E and D'and I) and C is not. too great to be once performed, but becomes very serious when it has to be performed each day. I The labor of hooking and unhooking is very slight; but I have never learned of any hook which could be adjusted on the belt or waist-band like mine. I do not confine myself to the precise number of hooks, A, or points, e, which I have represented. The fastening may be made of various sizes and proportions, and may be curved and rounded in various ways without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention. The parts may be applied as represented, with the hooks turned outward, or they may be placed in the reverseposition in attaching them to the belt. I prefer the latter.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows: I 1 i I claim the arrangement of the hooks A on the adjustable fastening G E D, and adapted for use on belts and waist-bands, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

S. J. SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

D. W. STE'ISON, W. 0. Der. 

